Cork Floors in Play Room, Nursery, Kindergarten, Kids Room – Warm, Cushy, Safe, Green, Soundproofing
What’s That Stain? Or Is That Bright Patch from when you tried to get the paint spill out? That’s all it takes to ruin the look of carpeting. And if it’s in the middle of the floor you can’t even cover it up with a piece of furniture. Now imagine it’s in your kids’ play room. So accumulation is certain. In the past, there really was no alternative to carpets, especially in areas where young children play. Now there is cork flooring. Noticeably softer than hardwood, stone/ceramic tiles and even vinyl, cork flooring provides a warm, cushy, and supportive walking surface.
Cork flooring does safe in a kids play room as well as carpet, but tops if off with an easier to clean surface and a lot of class and style. Most homeowners choose to go with carpeting in playrooms because it is the most common and cheaper flooring material. Carpet also rates high on its ability to lessen impact injuries. However carpets lack in the areas of aesthetic appearance and damage control. It’s functional but not the best when it comes to staying great looking, especially where children are concerned. Spills and stains can become a hard to clean annoyance or even a permanent mar. And the smell that a wet carpet puts out…HORRID.
Quercus Suber, or cork oak tree, is a species found mainly in the Mediterranean region. Over its evolution, this particular species developed some remarkable properties to adapt to harsh conditions. Unlike its hardwood cousins, cork is softer and light weight in comparison. How? Because the very cells that make up the structure of cork is built very much like a honeycomb. These millions of minute chambers are sealed against air and liquid invasion. Like a balloon, cork is elastic. Apply pressure and cork will contract, release the pressure and cork will quickly regain its shape. It is this property that makes cork flooring great for play rooms. Unlike hardwood and stone, cork is hard enough to stand up to normal wear and tear, but soft enough to provide support to the body. Fall on a cork floor and it will definitely not hurt as much as a stone one. And unlike carpeting cork flooring can withstand liquid invasion. Wipe up a spill and go.
Corks cell structure also provides cork the ability to insulate against heat and sound transfer, so cork works as an effective thermal barrier. A/C air stays cooler longer, or warm air keeps a room cozy for longer. Cork stays naturally warm to the touch. Run around barefoot on a cork floor all day or during the early morning and see if you find the need to complain about its temperature.
Cork is actually a great soundproofing material. It absorbs sound, even breaks it up as sound tries to pass thru it. The sounds of children at play becomes muted with cork flooring, even their steps find little noise and echo. Another plus is that cork is natural with no toxic additives, so in your precious children’s’ play space, you have a product that does not present a danger to them thru its very presence.
Keeping a cork floor clean is also easier than dealing with carpet. Sweep regularly with a soft sweeper broom to keep it free of debris and do a light damp mop once a month or so. Spot clean when needed. You’ll find that a cork floor like hardwood floors don’t collect dust and dander, and are gentler to your feet, especially if you are standing long periods. You will learn that a cork floor does not rot or promote the growth of bacteria. Overall it is a healthier floor for any home.
Come visit us at icorkfloor.com to learn more about cork flooring and browse our flooring lines.
